Step 1: Parts

Step 2: Gluing the Wood

Take your three layers of 1/4" plywood and glue the first two layers together. Once the glue is dry you can glue the third layer on. Dont forget to clamp your wood or if you don't have any clamps plie a bunch of heavy stuff on top.

Step 3: Design

Now you have to come up with a design for your longboard. You can copy other designs or make your own unique one. first draw your design on a large peice of paper and then trace that onto your wood. you can fold your paper in half and draw half the design and cut it out so you have a symmetrical shape.

Step 4: Cutting and Sanding

Now that you have your design on your wood you can cut it out. I used a jig saw to cut mine but you can use whatever works for you. sand it all nice and smooth so there is no rough edges. when this step is finished you have the start of your longboard deck.

Step 5: Fiberglassing

Now it's time to fiberglss the bottem. take your fiberglass matting and place it on the bottem of your long board deck. mix the resin according to the instructions that came with it. Apply the resin on top of the fiberglass matting and let is dry according to the instructions.

Step 6: Sanding Again

Sand the excess fiberglass matting off once the resin is dry and any rough spots you dont want.

Step 7: Paint and Grip Tape

If you want you can paint your longboard or draw a cool design on it. then you can put the grip tape on you can even make a design in the grip tape.

Step 8: Drilling Holes

Measure and mark the holes for the trucksand then drill them. Use the trucks as a template.

i'd recommend using roving (like fabric) fiber and not matting, it will help strengthen it more. You can also put a piece of stamped cloth (a hawaiian shirt for example) as last layer, so the longboard will be "stamped" instead of painted on the back.

i don't think you can really skip fiberglass and have a dependable board. but if you really just CAN'T use any i would go with the most flexy (not brittle) hardwoon you can find, maple maybe, and you will need more layers and it will be more stiff than a normal longboard (so pumping will be hard) if you do it without fiberglass i would suggest either a pintail of a shorter freestyle (like almost normal skateboard size)

this is so cool!!! i'm just getting into skateboarding, i ripstik, but i think that skate boarding would be fun, so i was looking at skate boards, and they are outrageously expensive!(same with long boards)(not walmart type ones) would you recommend what type of trucks to use? and how similar are long boards to skateboards? and do you know if you can do tricks on them? if so, what kind? and could you say how you put that star on? looks cool! anyhow...GOOD INSTRUCTABLE!! 5*! hope i can make it! :D

Hey man.Since this is your first time,I strongly suggest that you buy a premade deck.Trying to make one yourself without experience will get you hurt..Complete longboards made by Sector 9 and Loaded are great for beginners.Not to mention that the writer probably doesn't know much about longoarding,since he used trucks smaller than the board and the board shape it all wrong.In terms of tricks,there are different types of styles.-Downhill(riding down a hill)-Sliding(sliding the board)-Slalom(weaving in and out of cones)-Dancing(this is where the majority of the tricks are.Dancing is very complex,but it usually involves looking cool)

In terms of similarity,longboards are pretty different.They are much easier to ride due to the large wheels and longer boards,but are heavier than skateboards.Longboarding is somewhat more relaxed,though it can get intense if you're DH-ing.So,I welcome you to the sport of longboarding!

Id more go for a sector nine board, there the best budget boards, loaded is to expensive, your paying for the name. If youu dont like it then your stuck with this $400+ board. You can get sector nines for $300 or less.

Loaded boards are overpriced but that doesnt mean you wont like your board.As long as your not planning to do any major dh, i can almost gaurantee your will like a loaded board. I've had a dervish for a bit over a year, though biased in my opinion loaded boards are ridiculously fun to ride. Loaded boards are focused on dancing and carving, and some sliding. so if your interested in those types of longboarding i would for sure recommend a loaded !

the reason the trucks are small is because i didnt get time to modifie them in time for the contest so i just put them on as is but they have been modified since and for me the shape is right because to me it looks cool and i dont do any tricks i just use it to get around and if buy a premade deck it wrecking the whole fun in it and it wont be a cheap project any more

get a 180 mm reverse kingpin truck, you can't go wrong with Paris, Bear or Randal.

the wheels are the most important thing, Seismic, Earthwing, Retro, ABEC11 and O-tang wheels are always safe bets

the deck doesn't really matter, but a short, solid topmount is my preference.also stay clear from sector 9 bamboo boards they are of poor quality and split along the glue lines. homemades are great. build your own press or but a kit from roarockit. I made my first board and have yet to own a factory made one

bushings are versatile, they are the cheapest modification you can make and completely change the way a board handles